Cat owners are well aware that their pets are big sleepers. At any moment you can find them dozing peacefully in a variety of places. Scientists have calculated that the average cat is quite capable of sleeping up to 22 hours a day. But sleep is not always a sign of calm and well-being. In some situations, excessive sleepiness may indicate illness, or be a sign of an imbalance in the animal's body.
The origin of the cat's long sleep
Cats are originally nocturnal animals. This is how their distant ancestors were, and this is how modern mustachios-striped animals remain. This quality is especially familiar to residents of rural areas, private houses and summer cottages. Living in complete or partial freedom, cats come home only to eat and sleep, preferring to travel or hunt at night.
Domestic cats, who live indoors all their lives, rarely roam around the apartment at night, so they sleep much more than their more free-spirited counterparts. For them, significant daytime sleep is simply necessary, as the body needs to recover and digest the prey. How domestic fluffies sleep so much and maintain the flexibility of the spine and joints, the elasticity of muscles with little physical activity is a mystery that has not yet been solved by scientists.
Symptomatic treatment and procedures
If the cat has become lethargic, then there is no need to try to play with it, force feed it or pet it. It is important to listen to the animal and take into account its needs.
Perhaps the animal refuses its usual food. You can try offering a different brand of food or food from the table: fermented milk products, boiled meat or fish with porridge. You can offer your animal fresh greens.
If your cat's apathy is associated with stress and depression, you can give her a few drops of valerian or motherwort.
Fresh, cool air often helps relieve lethargy. Especially if it is very hot outside or indoors. The cat becomes lethargic and hides from the heat in a cool place (under the bed, behind a closet). If it’s winter outside, try to ventilate your apartment properly: this is useful not only for animals.
Normal sleep duration for an animal
Like human offspring, kittens sleep almost all the time, interrupting only to feed. This is completely normal, because their body is still very weak. In their sleep they grow and become stronger. A slightly older cub sleeps less, but still at least half a day.
An adult cat sleeps about the same amount or a little less/more. It is impossible to give an exact figure, because all animals have a pronounced individuality. Much depends on the character. Some cats are energetic, active, they play a lot and have fun. Others are inert, lethargic, prone to weight gain and much less active than their vigorous counterparts. Most of the time they just sleep.
There is a popular expression: “sleeps like a cat with half an eye.” This is a very apt remark. Unlike humans, who must sleep at least 7-8 hours in a row to restore energy, cats sleep in “short intervals.” On average, they simply doze for most of the time without losing their alertness. As soon as the slightest rustle is heard, the cats immediately wake up.
All sleep in cats is divided into two phases:
- Nap, superficial “slow” sleep – 20-30 minutes.
- Deep, “fast” sleep – 5-7 minutes. At this time, animals, like people, dream. Cat owners are well aware of this, since a sleeping pet can twitch its paws in its sleep, “run” and even meow. All this clearly indicates the presence of dreams.
The duration of sleep can be influenced by various external factors, for example, extreme fatigue, stress, changes in temperature. Physiology also influences the duration of rest. Pregnant cats sleep much more - this is a need for the body experiencing increased stress.
Symptomatic treatment
If the animal behaves apathetically for a short time, treatment is most often not required. You need to watch your pet and not bother him. When the condition returns to normal, the cat itself will replenish lost energy and emotions.
But if the owner is worried, you can take the animal to the clinic. The specialist will examine the animal and, if nothing dangerous is found, will release it home.
If the animal is apathetic for more than a day, there are no apparent reasons for this, and the condition worsens, you need to consult a doctor.
If, against the background of apathy, the animal has no appetite and does not drink, at the diagnostic stage it needs maintenance therapy. Typically these are glucose injections or infusions with solutions that replenish fluid loss and maintain electrolyte balance in the animal’s body. Treatment will depend on the diagnostic results.
You should not diagnose your animal yourself, much less give medications.
Natural causes of prolonged sleep in cats
A healthy cat can sleep more in the following cases:
- Extreme fatigue. After a night hunt, active play or prolonged wakefulness, the animal needs to restore strength and expended energy, so it sleeps much more than usual.
- Hot weather. At high temperatures, you have to save energy and water reserves in the body. This is well known to animals native to arid and hot places. The ancestors of cats originally lived in deserts, so they were excellent at maintaining strength in the heat and high dry air. They slept during the day and were more active at night when there was no sun and the temperature dropped significantly. Modern cats use genetic memory and prefer to take a nap during the midday hours, so during the hot season they sleep more than usual.
- Cold winter, rain, snow or low indoor temperature. In this case, purrs also sleep a lot, saving heat and trying to expend less energy. Curling up into a tight ball while sleeping makes it easier to maintain temperature balance in the body tissues. This method allows you to survive the cold and not freeze.
- Pregnancy. During gestation, the cat has to live for three, or even seven or eight. This is a burden on the body, and a natural way to maintain strength is long sleep.
- Use of a number of medications with sedative properties. They affect the nervous system and cause some inhibition, which leads to an increase in sleep duration. Drowsiness goes away on its own as soon as the drug's effect wears off.
- Previous surgery. After surgery and anesthesia, the animal sleeps a lot for two reasons: pain due to surgery and the consequences of the anesthetic drug. It is also known that during sleep the body recovers faster and healing occurs faster. As you recover, the duration of sleep will decrease to the usual norm.
- Vaccination completed. Vaccinations cause a response in the body that is somewhat similar to a disease. The animal feels weak and lethargic, so it sleeps a lot to recover.
- Castration or sterilization. This is not only severe stress, but also hormonal changes in the cat’s body. While restructuring is underway, your pet may be sleepy and lethargic.
- Elderly age. The older the cat, the longer his sleep lasts. This is due to the aging of the whole body, lack of energy, rapid fatigue and, as a result, a reluctance to move a lot, as in youth. The cause of increased sleep duration may also be various age-related and chronic diseases, which further weaken the pet.
- Recovery after illness. This is an energy-consuming and difficult period for the cat, so he rests and naps a lot.
- Stress. The reaction to it is first the excitation of the nervous system, and then strong inhibition.
All these conditions are not accompanied by additional symptoms, giving reason to believe that there are negative reasons for such prolonged sleep.
Serious reasons
Lethargy and lethargy in a cat is often a sign of a serious illness, but in order to know for sure, you need to pay attention to additional signs.
If lethargy is caused by pathology, it is usually accompanied by the following symptoms:
- The desire to hide in a dark place.
- Ungroomed fur.
- Diarrhea and vomiting.
- Lack of appetite and reluctance to drink.
- Heavy, shallow, or excessive breathing.
- Aggression.
- Increased body temperature.
- Shiver.
If a cat exhibits similar symptoms along with lethargy, then most likely it has one of the following conditions.
Stress
It cannot be called a disease; it would be more correct to say that it is a pathological condition caused by certain reasons, for example, a mental disorder, a change of owner, moving to a new place, the appearance of a new pet in the house, etc. Characteristic symptoms of stress are: eating disorders (refusal to eat or overeating), agitation, excessive licking of fur, scratching furniture, etc.
Poisoning
Characteristic signs: heavy breathing, diarrhea or vomiting, hyperthermia, cyanosis of mucous membranes, thirst.
High or low blood pressure
Low blood pressure (105/65 - 135/95 mmHg), as a rule, is accompanied by lethargy, its signs: drowsiness, apathy, loss of appetite, nausea, loss of consciousness. Signs of high blood pressure: dilated pupils, red eyes, blurred vision.
Endocrine system diseases
For example, diabetes mellitus, Cushing's disease, hormonal imbalance after childbirth, etc. Signs of endocrine disorder: extreme thirst, loss of appetite, frequent urination, bloating, dull hair, lethargy, weakened muscle tone, cramps.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
They are characterized by: refusal to jump, excessive caution of movements, causeless lameness (in the absence of injuries), swelling of the joints, apathy, refusal to eat, unkempt fur. Sometimes such diseases are accompanied by causeless aggression and growling, which is a sign of severe pain.
Infectious diseases
Such as panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calcivirosis. Signs of an infectious disease may include: diarrhea with the formation of yellow-green or greenish stool, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, hoarseness and difficulty breathing, excessive discharge from the nose and eyes, pallor or redness of the mucous membranes.
Oncological diseases
Characteristic signs are: bad breath, the appearance of non-healing ulcers on the skin and swelling on the body, aimless wandering around the house, diarrhea or vomiting, rapid weight loss, plaintive meowing, refusal to eat.
Presence of parasites
Such as fleas, worms and ticks can manifest themselves in stool disorders, weight loss, flatulence, purulent discharge from the eyes, bloating, etc. Ear mites manifest themselves in the fact that the cat constantly shakes its head, scratches its ears, from which a large amount of amount of earwax. Ticks on the skin of an animal provoke the appearance of itchy wounds and scales, as well as bald patches and itchy skin, and fleas also manifest themselves in the same way.
Inflammatory diseases of internal organs
They are accompanied by the fact that the cat becomes apathetic, drowsy, and refuses to play and eat. Diseases such as pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, cholecystitis and pancreatitis, as well as gastritis and colitis can cause an increase in body temperature in the animal, the appearance of blood in the urine and feces, and stool and urination disorders. When the cat has inflammation of the oral cavity, there is profuse salivation, the gums become swollen and red, and the appetite decreases.
Lack of vitamins (hypovitaminosis)
It has the following signs: dull fur, the presence of dandruff and dermatitis, frequent miscarriages in pregnant cats and developmental delays in kittens.
Low hemoglobin (anemia)
In this case, the animal develops weakness and apathy, cyanosis of the mucous membranes, decreased blood pressure, and deterioration in the quality of the coat.
Complications after surgery
They are characterized by: plaintive meowing, hyperthermia, lethargy, vomiting or constipation, purulent discharge from the postoperative wound.
If the cat is drowsy and apathetic for a short time (no more than 12 hours), then there is no reason to worry. Also, do not worry if the animal has been like this since childhood, as this is a sign of a phlegmatic character. If there is a sharp change in behavior and the pet has turned from cheerful to lethargic and indifferent, then this is a reason to consult a veterinarian.
- Author: Elena Romanenko
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The cat constantly sleeps and is lethargic: normal or pathological
Long rest and lack of appetite to a certain extent are normal. If the cat has had a heavy dinner, he becomes drowsy. The normal duration of rest per day is 12-14 hours or more.
The cat does not have sweat glands, and cooling through an open mouth is not typical. Therefore, in hot weather, the pet protects itself from overheating by reducing muscle activity, and also stops consuming calories through food. A fruitful mating has a calming effect on the female, and she prefers to sleep.
At the beginning of pregnancy, a cat, like a woman, experiences toxicosis while the signs are still invisible. Protection against illness is fasting and sleep. In older pets and individuals with a phlegmatic psyche, idleness and poor appetite are normal.
The norm is considered to be drug-induced inhibition after taking sedatives or antihistamines, as well as the condition after surgery.
The cat owner should be alert to additional symptoms:
- the desire to hide in a dark corner;
- the pet stops licking itself or does it too often;
- diarrhea and (or) vomiting develops;
- shortness of breath, cough, discharge from the nose or eyes occurs;
- muscle tremors appear;
- increase in body temperature or drop below normal;
- gums lose color.
Be sure to read: One eye of a cat is watering: reasons, what to do at home, medications and folk methods
If starvation and lethargy continue for more than two days, you need to see a veterinarian. Lack of appetite accompanied by cessation of drinking is a dangerous symptom.
What to do when the kitten begins to eat poorly?!
The kitten eats poorly and sleeps a lot,
or, conversely, restless. The temperature can be elevated (over 39.5 C) or lower (lower limit 37 C). Waiting for everything to return to normal on its own is dangerous. A little more than a day without food for a kitten under the age of six months is fraught with consequences that are difficult to correct. Due to weakness and dehydration, the baby’s body will not be able to cope with the disease on its own.
The kitten eats little, what to do
? He should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.
If the kitten is very weakened, do not torment him with a trip in transport, this is dangerous in his condition, call a veterinarian at home.
The doctor will provide the necessary assistance, examine the baby, and prescribe recommendations for treatment. In an emergency, the kitten must be hospitalized.
If the cat is lethargic, does not eat or drink: what to do?
If the animal does not eat or drink, then there is a reason that causes vomiting. If toxic substances appear in the gastrointestinal tract, the body gets rid of them, first of all, through diarrhea and vomiting. This scenario develops in case of poisoning or infectious diseases.
When the intestinal lumen is clogged with bones, hairballs, and helminth balls, there is only one way to get rid of poisons - through the mouth. An attempt to eat or drink something is stopped reflexively and vomiting occurs. Therefore, food and water intake is stopped.
When your pet is not eating or drinking and an appointment with the veterinarian is postponed, it is necessary to protect him from dehydration. The owner of the cat is able to independently inject him with Ringer-Locke solution or saline solution subcutaneously in unlimited quantities. Use syringes of 5 or 10 ml. After the injection, an accumulation of fluid is formed, which quickly resolves. Water should not be used for injection, it causes pain.
You should not treat your cat yourself. There is a high risk of compromising health and creating problems for the veterinarian during diagnosis.
The last stage of senile dementia
In the final stages of dementia, activities of daily living are significantly impaired. The patient requires constant supervision. The gradual deterioration of the mental state reaches such a level that patients cease to understand even the most basic phenomena of life around them:
- speech is almost lost,
- cannot eat food on their own,
- do not distinguish edible from inedible,
- stop observing the rules of personal hygiene,
- do not control bowel movements
- spend most of their time in bed.
Characteristic of the last stage of dementia is being in the fetal position: the legs are bent as much as possible at the knees and hip joints, the arms are crossed on the chest. Patients can remain in this position for days. When trying to change posture, they resist (as much as possible) and emit exclamations similar to moans or screams. All bowel movements are performed “on one’s own behalf.” In this state, patients with dementia do not recognize loved ones and do not respond to external stimuli.
